WSDG developed a production/teaching environment within the 1,000 square-foot space for students to learn the art of producing, recording and mixing.

Blue Bell, PA (March 23, 2018)—WSDG Walters-Storyk Design Group has created a teaching studio/mixing suite for its expanding Sound Recording and Music Technology (SRT) program at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) just north of Philadelphia.

WSDG partner/director of production, Romina Larregina worked closely with MCCC SRT coordinator Michael Kelly and SRT director, Grammy nominated engineer, and producer David Ivory, to determine the architectural, acoustical and media systems design requirements for the new facility. Kelly described the school’s associate degree SRT program (initiated in 2015) as “an immediate success,” Larregina says. “With 80 students enrolled, it was clear that a larger facility was required to meet the demand of their rapidly expanding student body. The new control room would have to accommodate 12 students with the potential for additional seating,” she adds.

“MCCC’s SRT associate degree program provides a comprehensive background in sound recording, music production and music technology expertise,” states Kelly, a professional composer, recording artist and teacher for over 30 years. “It prepares students for success in the industry and for transfer for the continuation of their education. After conceiving the idea for our ‘Dream Room,’ our first call was to WSDG. I discussed our aspirations with John Storyk, and he connected us with Romina Larregina for a proposal to determine the feasibility of such a project. Bringing this idea to reality with WSDG has been an amazing experience,” he said.

The new CR/Mixing Suite is the vision of Kelly, Ivory and SRT assistant professor, Steve Wanna. “With the addition of our new, cutting edge Mixing/Control Room, control room and isolation booth, we can now provide our students with hands-on experience in the entire scope of the recording process in a class room lab designed to function as a professional recording/mixing facility,” says Ivory, whose credits include three RIAA gold and two platinum awards for his work with such artists as The Roots, Erykah Badu and Patti LaBelle.

Working with Philadelphia-based PZS Architects, WSDG developed a production/teaching environment within the 1,000 square-foot. space. The 450-sq.-ft. fully isolated control room is supported by a 100-sq.-ft. iso booth, a 70-sq.-ft. sound lock, a 110-sq.-ft. green room and 150-sq.-ft. storage/ equipment closet. Outfitted with an SSL XL 9056K console, custom Augspurger speakers, a Genelec 5.1 surround system, a host of top gear and a producer’s desk positioned behind the mixing position, the new CR/classroom is intended to provide students with a first-class education in the art of producing, recording and mixing.